A former councillor of Samajwadi Party (SP) was allegedly gunned down by four unidentified assailants outside his house in the Katcha Balram Nagar area of Loni, Ghaziabad, late on Sunday night.

The victim, Bablu Gurjar, received at least six bullets on his face. He succumbed to
his injuries on the way to a hospital.

According to the police, the incident took place around 8pm when Gurjar, 38, a former Loni nagar palika councillor, was outside his house with his 12-year-old son. Four armed men on two motorcycles allegedly fired indiscriminately at him and fled. However, Gurjar's son escaped unhurt, they said.

According to sources, the victim had received a phone call before the incident took place. The caller had allegedly asked Gurjar to come out of his house.

Initial investigations suggest rivalry behind the incident. According to police sources, a resident identified as Bijender was murdered in December 2011. They said that Gurjar had supported the bereaved family against the murderers, who were from his rival group.

Meanwhile, Gurjar's family has filed an FIR accusing four persons - Ram Kishan, Vakil, Ram Kumar and Sita Ram - who they allege are from the rival group. According to sources, two of the accused had recently come out on bail.

"We are investigating if someone had called the victim on his mobile phone before the incident took place. Prima facie it seems that some personal rivalry was the motive behind the killing. We have formed teams to nab the accused," circle officer (CO) Arvind Kumar Yadav said.